How it works
The drug attacks a component of the cell known as mitochondria. Mitochondria are the sites for generating energy in cells.
Think of mitochondria as the powerhouse of a cell. Without them, cells lack energy and cellular building blocks necessary for normal tissue and organ function. The new compound prevents the genetic information within mitochondria from being read hence technically starving cancer cells.
It has previously been difficult to target mitochondria for cancer treatment due to their key role in normal tissue function and the toxicity of drugs that target mitochondrial functions. “We managed to establish a potential cancer drug that targets mitochondrial function without severe side effects and without harming healthy cells,” says Nina Bonekamp, one of the lead authors of the study.